Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
A/N: As promised, here's the last part of "A Place to Stay"! I hope you like it. I have a little warning in this chapter, though – there's a mild sex scene but yeah, I guess it's still bearable (for those who are uncomfortable reading those kinds of things). I'm not quite sure if I should change the rating to 'M' XD I've always rated my stories 'T', so if you think the rating should be change, do inform me :D
Well, read and review afterwards! Enjoy!
Part III
"Watch out!" Merlin cried as he rushed forward and pushed her away. Hermione, stunned, fell flat on the floor. The manservant also fell beside her, stifled chuckles escaping from his mouth.
"W-what?" Hermione asked, disoriented. She looked at the place where she was standing a while ago, only to see a large suit of armor now occupying her spot.
Merlin heaved himself up and helped Hermione on her feet. "You could have injured yourself, you know," he said, gently grabbing the basketful of ingredients she was carrying on her way back to Gaius' bedchambers. "What are you deeply thinking about?"
She shot him a quick look and flushed scarlet. The panic she had been feeling just before the small disturbance came back to her full-force, and judging from Merlin's surprise, it showed on her face.
Two days had passed ever since she last saw Prince Arthur Pendragon. From what Merlin yammered on, the prince seemed to have isolated himself in his bedchambers, refusing to go out even if summoned by the king. During those two days of solitude, Hermione ended up with a startling conclusion.
She believed that she might now be completely in love with Arthur Pendragon.
It was sudden, and she knew it. She thought it was merely a passing fancy, but still, she grew feelings for the prince of an ancient kingdom… a place where she did not belong at all.
Those two days were filled with horrifying thoughts for the brunette, her emotions overwhelming her very heart. Poor her, she had no one to confide with, and she was afraid she would be mercilessly condemned for falling in love with a person she could never be with.
Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes and Merlin, absolutely astonished, grabbed her elbow and peered closely at her face. "Hermione?" he whispered. "What's wrong?"
Looking at his concerned-filled face broke any resolve she had left. Loud, guttural sobs escaped from her mouth and she cried her heart out. She knew nothing was supposed to happen between her and Arthur. She belonged to her own world and Camelot needed him. It didn't help that her heart already broke into two even before the inevitable rejection was voiced out.
Hermione made her last farewells to her colleagues, before strolling towards the Floo network. She intended to visit the Potters today, especially because Harry promised to listen to her about the information her aurors had gathered about the whereabouts of Rodolphus Lestrange.
The dying days of January had come into an end and now, it was the start of fresh February. Despite the new month, Hermione was still quite stressful with her work. As what she had predicted, Lestrange's escape posed a great threat to Great Britain. There were numerous attacks, which they all thought was Lestrange's doing.
He was a cunning fellow, much to her disgruntlement. Sometimes, she would think they almost got him, but Rodolphus Lestrange would suddenly disappear without leaving a trace.
Hermione had never felt so disappointed with herself and she knew that her heart would only be at peace once they caught Lestrange.
She shook those thoughts away first as she threw a handful of floo into the fireplace. Once an emerald fire roared, Hermione stepped inside and exclaimed Harry's address.
As soon as she arrived, she stumbled out. She brushed away the soot on her shoulders and magicked them away.
Hermione scanned the receiving area and frowned. Harry actually expected her and normally, he would be standing in the receiving area, waiting for her. Seeing that he was gone made her suspicious.
"Harry?" she exclaimed, searching around. "Ginny?"
It confused her when nobody answered.
Hermione perused the whole manor, cursing Harry's fortune for purchasing such a humongous house. And to think it only housed him and Ginny!
She finally arrived at the kitchen and she could hear strange noises inside. At this time of the day, the kitchen was supposed to be empty since the house-elves that serve Harry and Ginny were back in Hogwarts, doing their other tasks.
Cautiously, she pulled out her wand and stepped inside. A scrumptious scent teased her nose and she frowned, more flabbergasted.
Hermione immediately ran inside and shouted a spell. King Arthur, who turned out to be the intruder who had been making noises inside the kitchen, ducked out of instincts. Hermione's spell whizzed past the top of his head and hit the wall behind him. A rather large dent appeared on the wall and Arthur, shakily, stared at it in surprise.
"Oh… oh blast," Hermione said, quickly striding towards the stunned king. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't know it was you."
Arthur blinked his large eyes and looked at Hermione. "Err…" he said, still stunned. Hermione had a perfect idea he might be imagining what would have happened to him if the dent appeared on his face.
Much to her horror, giggles escaped from her lips. Arthur's eyes widened at the sound that escaped from her lips and she, embarrassed, raised up her hand and stifled the awful sounds.
"You… you could have killed me," Arthur growled, pointing at the wall behind him. "How dare you laugh?"
Hermione grinned, unfazed. She lifted her wand once again and Arthur actually looked frightened. Raising an eyebrow at him, she waved her wand and the wall behind him was as good as new.
The king sighed and shook his head, muttering things under his breath.
"Where are the others?" she asked, looking around. Her eyes landed on the small table separating her from Arthur. "Are you… are you cooking?"
"Don't act so surprised, Hermione," Arthur said, lightly glaring at her direction. "Without anything to do here in this manor, I asked Merlin and some of the house-elves to teach me how to prepare one." He gestured at the plate of food on the table. "Would you like some?"
"Is it edible?" she asked, prompting him to glare. Hermione broke into a small grin and nodded. "Well, in that case, I would like to have some, please."
Arthur nodded his head while Hermione comfortably settled herself on one of the chairs. While the king continued preparing their small snack, Hermione processed what had happened between the two of them. To her surprise, they actually had a decent, not-awkward conversation back then. It helped that, well, she almost killed him, but nonetheless, it was a decent conversation.
"Where are the others?" Hermione asked once again.
"Harry took Merlin in a Quidditch match," Arthur said, making a face. "Normally, I would have loved to watch one, but I'm not really that interested." He finally brought the two plates of spaghetti towards Hermione and placed one plate in front of her. "Ginny is with Healer Weasley. Something about her pregnancy, I think."
Hermione nodded her head in reply.
As Arthur settled himself beside her, they both busied themselves by eating their spaghetti. Hermione then was suddenly very much aware that she was alone with him, and the awkwardness in the atmosphere was felt again.
"How was work today?" Arthur casually asked, breaking the silence. He had no idea how his question brought silent relief to the brunette.
She answered his question and they exchanged stories. Most of their conversation revolved around Arthur's misadventures regarding the advancement of technology in this world.
Before they knew it, it was nearing twilight and Hermione must admit she had enjoyed this day.
He was just finishing a narration about Merlin and his unfortunate encounter with an oven toaster. Hermione, with a small smile on her face, looked down on the table and listened intently to his story. That was when she noticed that her hand was a hairsbreadth away from Arthur's, and he did not even realize it.
Hermione felt her cheeks coloring at their close proximity. She was suddenly very aware of him and only him, and she found herself unable to properly breathe.
Images of her stay back in Camelot came rushing into her, even if she mercilessly pushed them back away. Despite Arthur being here, in her own world, did not mean that things had changed between the two of them. Arthur was, and would always be, the man that could not be with her.
Before she could even come up with a silly excuse and scamper away, his pinky touched hers, and the familiar electricity jolted all throughout the nerves in her body. Arthur's voice died down in the background as the only thing loud enough for her to hear was her blood pumping.
Slowly, ever so slowly, Arthur's hand shifted and was now resting comfortably on top of Hermione's.
She directed her wide eyes onto his face, now realizing that he had stopped talking a few minutes ago. She searched his face intently, especially his eyes, and could see a myriad of emotions swirling in his light pools.
Tears pricked at the corner of her eyes, but she was frozen to pull away. His hand by then now tightly clenched her own, giving her the idea that he very much did not want to let go at all. She tried pulling away, but he held onto her hand more tightly.
"Arthur," she softly said, a tear rolling down on her cheek. "This isn't - "
He cut her off by swooping down and giving her a kiss. She reacted immediately by pushing his chest away. His eyes were ablaze with a fiery passion Hermione had sorely missed and unknowingly, her tears increased.
"No," she said, vigorously shaking her head. Her curls flew around her face and she tried to pull away once more. "No, Arthur. You know we can't."
A bitter chuckle escaped from his lips and he closed his eyes. "Three years, Hermione," he brokenly whispered. "Three damn years." He slowly opened his eyes and Hermione could clearly see the pain he was feeling. "It had been too long. Just for now… please."
Her mind was whirling with a million thoughts. Her everything screamed for her to refuse, to run away and hide. But her heart, her blasted heart, was begging her to agree. After all, he was right. It had been too long.
Arthur then slowly lifted his hand and brushed her tears away. Hermione painfully closed her eyes and marvelled his touch. He was gentle, and sweet, and he was still everything that Hermione had ever wanted.
"Hermione," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. The brunette slowly opened her eyes and looked straight into his eyes. "I still love you."
Before she could even react to his confession, Arthur swooped down and captured her lips. This time, she did not pull away. She kissed him back with equal fervor, her fingers now entangled into his glorious hair. He pulled her flush against his chest and kissed her more deeply and Hermione could already feel her knees weakening with the intensity.
It had ended too soon and Arthur had completely pulled away from her. She did not dare open her eyes in case of breaking down. She could hear Arthur's fading footsteps and by the time she knew she was alone, she opened her eyes and let her tears fall.
He was here, right beside her, when all she wanted to do right now was to run away from him. He said he had some business to do here in the Darkling Woods, but then again, it was starting to be routine for the two. Hermione would think she finally had her own alone time, but Arthur would suddenly appear and make up a perfectly crafted lie.
Hermione sighed and she knew she could never get rid of him. Not when Gaius still had not perfected the reverse potion. She tried to ignore Merlin's worried looks and acted like her little breakdown back then had not happened at all. The brunette collected herself and swore to herself that she would act normally, especially if she was around the Prince. It wouldn't do her some good if Arthur started to get suspicious of the precious feelings she now harboured for him.
The brunette shot a quick look at the prince and frowned. She thought he was being awfully quiet. Normally, he would have yammered on and on about his adventures with his knights and Merlin. "Is something the matter?" she softly asked.
Arthur briefly looked at her, an unreadable expression on his face. He seemed to very much want to reply, but no words escaped from his mouth. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, making Hermione believe that something was actually wrong.
"Hey," she said, tapping him on his arm. "You're not exactly looking good, sire. Maybe it is best if you go back t – AHHH!"
Such was her concentration on asking him what was wrong, she did not notice a protruding rock. Hermione thought she would have fallen completely on the bumpy, forest floor and injure herself, but to her utmost relief, Arthur's reflex did not fail him, for his arm was now snaked around her waist.
"Are you quite all right?" Arthur asked, worriedly peering down her face.
Hermione was very much aware how his arm tightened around her. Her cheeks turned into a faint shade of pink and she forced out a shaky chuckle from her mouth. "I-I'm sorry, that was terribly clumsy of me," she stumbled. "But thank you, your highness, you can let me go now."
It surprised her he still had not let go. Slowly, she lifted her face to questioningly look at Arthur, but then, it was too late when she realized it was a bad idea.
They were too close for her own liking, but Hermione could not do anything about it. She was trapped between his chest and his arm. Her cheeks grew hotter under his intense gaze, and she silently swallowed.
"I…" she whispered, her eyes unwittingly travelling to his pink lips. The dormant desire in her heart reawakened and slowly, Arthur's head neared hers. Her eyes gradually closed and she could now feel his nose brushing gently against hers, and his soft breath fanning her face.
"I…" she repeated once again, now panicking. She crumpled his sleeves and swallowed. "I d-don't belong here."
Hermione immediately pushed away from him and took a few steps back. She could see the disappointment and surprise in his eyes. She started wringing her wrists and anxiously looked at him. "I don't belong here," she whispered once more, her eyes filling with tears.
Never could they be together.
She then shot past him and did not glance back. As she trudged back into Camelot, Hermione allowed her tears to fall.
She had avoided him, at all cost, and she was thankful he respected the solitude she silently requested. Hermione was thankful nobody seemed to notice the sudden tension between her and Arthur. It seemed like everybody was too busy with their own lives. Well, except Merlin, since he constantly darted questioning looks her way.
Hermione took a deep breath and trudged out of the ministry. Once again, Kingsley requested for an Order of the Phoneix meeting in the Potter Manor. There were rumors that Rodolphus Lestrange had been spotted in Hogwarts, posing a threat in the said school. Headmistress McGonagall already implemented stricter rules to protect the students. Hermione and Minister Shacklebolt already discussed a few things about sending aurors into Hogwarts, but they still both agreed it was best if the discussed it with the Order.
As Hermione arrived in the Potter Manor, she was surprised to see that the normally early members were absent.
"Hermione," a relieved Harry said, clambering towards her. "I was worried something bad had already happened to you."
"What's happening?" she asked, confusedly looking around. "Where are the others?"
Harry grimly shook his head. "There was a sudden attack in the ministry," he replied.
"The ministry?" Hermione asked, her eyes widening. "But I've just been there!"
"Minister Shacklebolt said that a few minutes after you left, the ministry was attacked," The-Boy-Who-Lived explained. "We have speculations it was a group of rogue Death Eaters, headed by Lestrange, who attacked."
The brunette grew alarmed. "We have to help," she said, but Harry tightly clutched her arm to stop her from apparating.
"No," Harry said. "You have to stay here. Kingsley reckons they are targeting you, so it will be dangerous for you to walk into the ministry."
Hermione scowled. "I'm the Head Auror," she replied back. "I have certain responsibilities, and that includes capturing Lestrange and his men."
Her best friend vigorously shook his head. "Kingsley agrees with me," he desperately answered. "You have to stay here. We both suspect Lestrange had gained enough power. If he discovers you are in the ministry, he'd instantly target you."
"But Harry - "
"My decision is final," The-Boy-Who-Lived firmly replied. "I already told Merlin of our situation. If you attempt to run away, Merlin will zap you back without any second thoughts. You hear me?"
Hermione's scowl darkened.
"Hermione," Harry said.
"Fine," the brunette spat, glaring at her friend.
Harry deflated at her resignation. To her surprise, he drew her into a tight hug and squeezed her tight. "This is for your safety, Hermione. Stop scowling."
Hermione sagged against Harry and tightly hugged him back. "Be careful," she said, placing a quick kiss on his cheek. "Merlin knows how much danger you will be confronted with later."
He snorted, much to her surprise. "Merlin doesn't know anything," he cajoled, picturing the clumsy, gangly manservant in his mind.
In spite of herself, she smiled. Harry then pulled away from her and apparated.
Hermione spent the whole day worrying herself sick. According to Merlin, Ginny went to the Burrow to protect herself and her child. Hence, only she, Merlin, and Arthur were in the Potter Manor.
"Hermione, come now, there's no need to constantly pace," an agitated Merlin told her a few hours later, warily watching her pace back and forth. They were both lounging in the living room, waiting for some news or at least a message. Night was drawing near and still, she had no idea what was happening back in the ministry.
Feeling suddenly stuffy inside the room, Hermione turned around and stormed away.
"Where are you going?" Merlin called, standing up in alarm.
"Just outside, Merlin," she shot back. "I won't slip away from you, I promise."
"Do you swear on Gaius' library?" he asked, innocently smiling. Hermione scowled at him. He knew how much she adored Gaius' little collection of books.
Sighing, she grumbled, "I swear on Gaius' library."
Merlin nodded and made shooing noises. "I'll be watching you, Hermione," he warned, a serious glint in his eyes. "Do try anything funny, or Harry Potter will have both of our heads."
Hermione nodded and walked outside, welcoming the cool breeze that caressed her cheeks. This was what she needed, some fresh air to calm herself down.
As she meandered through the small garden of the Potters, she wondered once again what could have possibly happened back in the ministry. It infuriated her that Rodolphus Lestrange was trying so hard to give off the same fear that Voldemort had inflicted on the hearts and minds of the people of the Wizarding World. He was barmy, as barmy as his deceased wife. Hermione knew for a demented man to wreck havoc all over her world would be much more dangerous than an evil wizard with a rational mind.
'They'll be all right,' she said, nervously wringing her wrist. 'They'll be all right.'
A sudden figure from afar caught her vision and she instantly pulled out her wand. She tightened her hold on it as she slowly moved closer, only to see that it was King Arthur. Apparently, it wasn't only her who needed fresh air on this tensed night.
"Will you try to successfully blast a hole on my face this time, Hermione?" Arthur asked, surprising her. His back was facing away from her and she was astonished he detected her presence. As he slowly turned around to face her, Hermione tensed, remembering how things had been awkward between the two of them for the past few days.
"Are you going to run away?" he softly asked, a strange glint shining in his beautiful eyes.
Hermione clenched her jaw. "Will you stop me?" she retorted back, warily gazing at the determination in his stance.
Arthur stared at her for a while before stepping forward. Hermione, with a jolt, stepped back. "Hermione…" he called, outstretching his hand.
She vigorously shook her head, her wariness heightening. "Arthur, please, now isn't the right time," she said, nervously tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "There are far more important things to think about right now." She pointedly looked at him when he opened his mouth. "Please, don't be selfish right now."
He looked at her in surprise, her words ringing in his ears. A disbelieving snort then escaped from his lips and he wryly looked back at Hermione. "If now isn't the right time, then when is?" he retorted back, his mouth slowly magnetizing into a frown. "Hermione, I only have a few weeks left before the Feast of Beltane arrives. Don't you think it is best if we settle this… this whatever that is happening between us?"
Now, Hermione felt a little furious. Here was she, worrying herself sick for the welfare of her friends in the ministry, but this… this infuriating clotpole who calls himself a king was trying to ask her to settle whatever was happening between them.
"I don't have time for this," she said, whirling around to stomp away. But Arthur tightly clutched her arm, trapping her in place. "Arthur, please."
"Hermione, please," he replied back, his eyes filling with emotions. "It's been days. I respected your request of solitude, but don't you think it is a little unfair in my part?"
Enraged, Hermione whipped her head at him. "What is left to talk about?" she growled. "We've settled this back in Camelot, Arthur. You and me" – she furiously gestured at the space between them – "can never, ever happen. You belong to Camelot, I belong here. We are from two different worlds. Isn't that enough answer to all the questions that run inside your head?"
He shook at her outburst, unwittingly tightening his hold on her arm. When Hermione flinched, Arthur's eyes widened a little, and he then decided to pull away.
"You once said that if two people are destined to be together, whatever obstacle they may face in the future, inevitably, they'd still end up together," he whispered.
Something painful clenched her heart and she took a sharp intake of breath. "I wasn't talking about you and me," she said, trying her very hardest to blink back her tears. "I was talking about you and Guinevere, the woman you are supposed to marry."
"Guinevere?" Arthur asked in an enraged confusion. "I do not harbour anymore feelings for Guinevere. Guinevere is already married to Lancelot, and had been expecting a child for a few months now."
Her eyes widened at his revelation. "G-Guinevere and Lancelot?" she asked in a breathless stupor. Hermione suddenly felt dizzy and she took a step back, disbelieving. "I-It can't be. You are supposed to end up marrying Gwen."
"I do not love her," Arthur firmly replied. He took a few steps forward and caught Hermione's hands. "I love you. After all this years, you still lived in my heart. Why don't you believe me? I thought I was merely fancying myself with the idea of falling in love with you, especially after Gwen broke my heart. But no." He tightly squeezed her hands and looked intently into her eyes. "No, Hermione, I still love you."
Tears filled her eyes and she vigorously shook her head. "Why are you making this so, so difficult?" she said, weakly pushing him away. "We cannot be together, Arthur."
He was ready to retort something back. His face had already contorted in an enraged sneer, but when a small tear fell slowly down from her eye, all feelings of rage left his body. Arthur sagged down, his shoulders slumping in a defeated stance.
Shakily, he ran a hand through his hair and Hermione discreetly wiped her tears away.
"It wasn't my intention to make you cry today, forgive me," he whispered back, a forlorn smile appearing on his face. She was surprised with his apology, her gaze returning back to his face. When he caught her shining eyes, his eyes once again flashed with the pain he was feeling. "I'm sorry, Hermione."
Arthur then slightly bowed down and left her without a word. Dumbfounded, Hermione was left staring at his retreating back. Her tears continuously fell, her mind still reeling with the conversation they had a while ago.
"Trouble in paradise, dearie?"
Hermione's eyes widened. She knew that voice.
Hastily, she whipped around, her mouth ajar. "You," she gasped, wayward tears now landing noiselessly on the fabric of her sweater.
"Hello, Hermione Granger," Rodolphus Lestrange, giving her a mock bow. Hermione quickly pulled out her wand, but the rogue Death Eater was fast. Before she could even mutter a spell, she was already knocked off onto the ground.
"Merlin, how many times do I have to tell you I don't want to eat?" Arthur grumbled, his voice muffled by the pillow. "You annoying manservant. I don't even know why I put up with you."
Hermione pursed her lips, the corner of her lips lifting in a small smile. Just a while ago, Merlin came bustling into Gaius' bedchambers, annoyed that again, his master had refused any nourishment he offered. The young warlock was absolutely baffled by Arthur's sudden change of attitude, but Hermione, remembering the event that had happened between the two of them, perfectly knew the reason for Arthur's brooding.
"I'll send him another tray, Merlin," she volunteered. Merlin, confused, merely allowed her to do so. Hermione was thankful there were no questions asked; she might back out even before delivering the said tray to the prince's bedchamber.
"Will you send him to the stocks again?" she softly asked. Her voice was like magic, for Arthur suddenly sat up straight on his bed. He directed his wide eyes at her direction, disbelief clearly etched on his face, and that was when Hermione saw how terrible he looked.
"What are you doing here?" Arthur asked, before flustering red and looking away.
Truth be told, Hermione actually expected she would be back to avoiding him. It was always the easiest thing to do, especially now because Gaius voiced out the fact that he was starting to perfect the reverse potion. But then, she thought it wouldn't be fair to Arthur. Yesterday already spoke volumes of the feelings the prince held for her and Hermione, not wanting him to mercilessly think of ideas as to why she ran away, wanted to relieve him from his misery. And her misery, perhaps. She had this feeling she would leave soon and whatever was happening between her and the prince must be settled once and for all.
"Merlin told me you refuse to eat," she said, lifting the food tray and offering it to him. "As the future King of Camelot, you must take care of yourself, sire."
He looked at her strangely for a while, before clutching the tray away from her hands. For a moment, their fingers brushed and Hermione flinched; she couldn't deny the jolt of electricity she had felt just now.
Arthur silently ate his bread and Hermione wondered if she were to leave now. But then, the prince suddenly spoke, and Hermione took a deep breath. "Yesterday…" he started, refusing to meet her eyes. "Why did you leave?"
She nervously looked down at him and silently cleared her throat. "I-It wasn't right," she reasoned out. "You're… a prince and I am just a mere servant."
A disbelieving laugh escaped from his lips, surprising Hermione. "If that is what's bothering you, then you obviously do not know me," he replied. The prince expelled a soft sigh and beseechingly continued. "Hermione, I used to love Gwen, remember? And she's a maidservant like you. Do you honestly think I care about statuses when I fall in love?"
He was implying his feelings for her, and Hermione suddenly felt light-headed. "N-no, it isn't right," she interjected, shaking her head. "You and Guinevere… you are destined to be together."
A dark scowl appeared on his face. "How can you say that? I've already accepted that she loves Lancelot. I…" His words died down and Hermione, curious, looked back into his eyes. There was a hard glint in his eyes, prompting her heart to skip a beat. "I love you."
Her eyes widened, disbelieving. 'No, no, no,' she kept telling herself, shaking her head vigorously. "You don't know me at all," she whispered, laughing mirthlessly. "How can you say you love me, Arthur?"
"Then let me know you," he whispered, stretching out his hand to reach her own. Once his warm hand enclosed around her small one, Hermione did not have the heart to pull away. He looked earnest and sincere, and the emotions swirling in his beautiful eyes brought tears in her own eyes. "I want to know you, Hermione. Then perhaps, I'd be able to properly understand what feelings I have for you."
She sniffed and sadly smiled. "I'm not worth it," she whispered as a small tear trailed down on her cheek. "I… I don't belong here, sire. Soon, I will leave and I don't think I'm ever going back."
He blanched and she thought he might have given up all together because of the words she had uttered. But then, to her surprise, he gently smiled at her. "Then… then allow me to spend your remaining time here in Camelot with you."
Oh, how her heart hummed with glee! She actually planned to trudge into his bedchamber, prevent him from further going into this madness, but he was just so… so… "Why must you be so difficult?" she asked, releasing a watery chuckle. She closed her eyes and tightly held his hand. "I… I-I tried my best to avoid you because this is wrong. I just…" Hermione felt very tired. "I don't think I can avoid you anymore."
A large grin blossomed on his face and she returned it with a shy smile of her own. Arthur then slowly lifted his hand and daintily wiped away the tears that still fell from her eyes.
Inside her heart, Hermione knew she had just signed herself an inevitable heartbreak. But what must she do?
She just wanted to stay by his side for the rest of the days.
"She's well."
Arthur lifted his eyes from his untouched plate of food and looked at his manservant. Merlin was looking at him worriedly, a small, sad smile completing his look. The king, unable to help himself, glared darkly at him and went back to staring at his plate.
Three days ago, a trying event had happened in the Potter Manor. While Harry and the others were busy defending the ministry from the rogue Death Eaters, nobody predicted that the attack was merely a ploy so that Rodolphus Lestrange could attack a defenseless Hermione Granger in the Potter Manor.
It was Merlin who found the injured brunette, who was almost in the brink of death. After Arthur stormed back inside the manor after their confrontation, Merlin worriedly asked him where Hermione was. Arthur, too distressed from his talk with Hermione, merely stayed silent.
Somehow, this had alarmed the young warlock for he shot out of the manor to search for Hermione. It took a full minute before Arthur heard a loud bang and alarmed, he drew out Excalibur and ran outside. The scene outside had sank his heart, for Merlin was running quickly back, the mangled body of Hermione Granger nursed close to his chest.
They immediately called for Harry and the minister. The attack in the ministry had been stopped and controlled, and The-Boy-who-Lived and Kingsley immediately apparated back to the manor after receiving Merlin's distress call.
Harry acted quickly upon seeing the state of Hermione. He Floo-ed Luna, who did not fail them all and arrived immediately. For the whole, long night, everybody waited outside as Luna healed Hermione's wound.
Hours ticked by, and they were starting to get restless. Arthur took it upon himself to claim the blame, furiously stating it was his fault he left Hermione in such a vulnerable state.
"It's nobody's fault," Harry gravely murmured. "It was nobody's fault but Rodolphus Lestrange's."
The said Death Eater was blasted to his death by Merlin. The young manservant narrated that when he arrived, Lestrange was about to exclaim the Killing Curse. It was fortunate he arrived just in time to save Hermione.
A few more hours passed by and soon, Luna emerged from Hermione's room.
"She's well," she told them all, perspiration shining brightly on her forehead. A relieved smile stretched widely on her face. "She's well, but she needs some rest. I'm not quite sure she will wake up immediately, though. All we need to do is to wait."
Thus, for three, painstaking days, everybody waited with bated breath until Hermione showed signs of consciousness. It was mostly Ginny and Luna who visited Hermione everybody. The men had other matters to do in the ministry, but that did not exactly mean they do not care about Hermione's whereabouts anymore. Often, Harry and Kingsley would visit just to check up on Hermione.
Merlin wanted to be off service to the others and so, Kingsley allowed him to tag along every time they were to go to the ministry. Nobody still knew who the mysterious, blue-eyed sorcerer was, and they were all thankful for that. With the ruckus regarding the rogue Death Eaters still terrifying the people of the Wizarding World, they all believed it wouldn't do any of them some good if they discovered the legendary Merlin himself was brought forward into their present.
"Arthur?" Merlin asked, peering worriedly at his master.
Arthur expelled a soft sigh. "I am well, Merlin, thank you," he murmured in exhaustion.
Silence ensued between the two of them, before Merlin broke it with a soft sigh.
"She asks for you, you know," Merlin said, a sad smile on his face. "She knew you bore the guilt of being the reason why she was harmed in the first place."
The king made a face. "Clever girl," he said through gritted teeth.
Merlin, exasperated, rolled his eyes. "I think it will do you some good if you visit her today, Arthur," he said, once again staring at him worriedly. "Among all of the people living here in the Potter Manor, I think it is her who is the best candidate to drill in that thick head of yours that it wasn't your fault."
"You have no right to talk to me like that," Arthur snarled, his eyes blazing with fury. "I am your king and you should show some respect."
The manservant was surprisingly unfazed. "That title of yours tires you so, doesn't it?" he asked, unknowing that his conclusion had greatly impacted Arthur. "Try being Arthur most of the time, sire. I've never seen you happiest when you do."
Merlin then proceeded to stand up and bowed his head in respect. He then grabbed both of their plates and walked towards the sink to wash them clean.
Arthur, at loss of what to do, sat frozen on his seat. Sometimes, he wondered as to where Merlin got all of those wise words he surprisingly claimed whenever Arthur needed an advice the most.
What he spoke was true – he was tired of becoming a king. Being one required him to push away all selfish thoughts from his mind and although it was a very noble thing to do, Arthur was starting to reach his limit. One reason why he couldn't bring himself to visit Hermione was because… well, he was starting to train himself to accept the fact that she was right and had always been – they couldn't be together.
But his heart, oh his heart, had been screaming for him to visit her at least once. He wanted to ease the guilt, to see that she was still well, but his title as king was stopping him. There was one more month to go before the Feast of Beltane and soon, he would be backto Camelot.
The prospect of not seeing her again broke his heart all over again. He had thought of her every day, every night, and she had consumed his dream for the following years after she left. This… this was a dream come true and Arthur knew that until he returned, he should marvel every day in Hermione's presence.
This thought had brought him on his feet, purposefully stomping towards the room where Hermione temporarily stayed. Unbeknown to him, Merlin was staring at Arthur's back with a small smile on his face, before returning back to his task.
Once Arthur arrived in front of her door, he lifted his fist and knocked softly. He waited for a few minutes, but nobody replied. Thinking Hermione was still sleeping, Arthur opened the door and peeked inside. Hermione was very much awake, her eyes staring distantly at the window inside her small room. She was bandaged pretty much in every part of her body, but nonetheless, she was well.
"I was starting to think you will not visit me," she said, startling him. Slowly, she looked at his stunned form, and smiled. "Hello, Arthur."
Arthur swallowed, not really knowing what to say. Uncertainly, he strode forward, his eyes never leaving Hermione's form.
"H-how are you?" he rasped out, awkwardly standing beside her bed.
"A little sore all over, but I'm quite well," she answered back, standing from her chair. She strode closer to her bed, too, and cautiously returned his gaze. "You look terrible, sire."
A soft snort escaped from his lips. "I can say the same to you, Hermione," he said, prompting her to smile once again.
For a moment, she merely stared back at him and Arthur allowed the silence to befall upon them.
"Arthur," she started, breaking the silence, "it wasn't your fault."
He felt his hands clenching into tight fists. "How, pray tell, can you not blame me at all?" he harshly snapped, his eyes dangerously narrowing. "I was the last person with you, Hermione. If I hadn't… If I hadn't…" His voice died down and he shakily looked away from her. To his horror, he could feel his cheeks coloring. "Oh God," he murmured, closing his eyes. "Oh God, you could have died." He opened his eyes and imploringly looked back at Hermione. "I could have protected you."
Hermione's eyes softened, and the beautiful smile never left her face. "The way you are acting doesn't make me blame you at all, sire," she softly said, outstretching her arm to reach for him. Her vast bed separated the two of them, but she did not seem to mind. Her fingertips brushed against his arm.
"W-when I saw you in Merlin's arms, I thought - " He thickly swallowed a forming lump in his throat. Absentminded, he lifted his own hand and tightly grasped Hermione's hand. "I am a man of pride, Hermione," he whispered. "But on that day, I believed it was the first time I felt very afraid. I thought I would never be able to see you again."
Her eyes shone with tears, but no words left her mouth.
"You said we can never be together," he continued, his eyes boring into hers. "And I know… I know, even if that simple thought already kills me inside." He squeezed her hand and brought it against his cheek. "I only have a month left, Hermione, and then we're back to who we truly are. For now, can't we… can't we be just Arthur and Hermione?"
"This will break both of our hearts," she truthfully said, tears now streaming down from her face.
A mirthless chuckle escaped from her lips. "I know," he said, nodding his head for confirmation. "But, wouldn't it be nice if we make more memories together so that we have something to reminisce about when we miss each other?"
She shakily laughed at his statement. "Three years had passed, Arthur Pendragon, but you still are a stubborn man," she said.
Arthur smiled and kissed her knuckles. He knew things would end bitterly between the two of them, but somehow, he still wanted to spend his remaining stay here in the future with her and only her.
Hermione bit her bottom lip, trying to stifle a goofy smile that was threatening to form. On her right hand, she clutched the small basket where most of the ingredients she gathered in the Darkling Woods lay. Cringing, she could already predict a long sermon from the head cook, seeing that she wasn't able to gather all of the ingredients. But then, anything remotely negative seemed to dissipate into thin air as Hermione once again relieved the very first kiss she shared with Prince Arthur Pendragon.
It was, for lack of a better word, magical. She might be acting like a silly, schoolgirl for all she care, but Hermione felt magnificent and nothing, not even a band of stampeding hippogriffs, could dampen the wonderful mood she currently was in.
"Hermione!"
She was snapped off from her dreamy stupor as she turned around. Her eyebrows rose as a frantic, yet perfectly excited Merlin, came dashing towards her. His hair was in a disarray, but his handsome blue eyes twinkled with merriment. It was hard not to smile back at the ridiculously adorable manservant.
"What has gotten you in a good mood?" Hermione asked, allowing Merlin to clutch her elbow and drag her somewhere only he knew. It looked like it wasn't only her who had her spirits up today.
"It's Gaius," he gushed out, his excitement heightening. "I was with him a while ago, helping him with brewing the reverse potion." Before he could even finish his statement, Hermione could already feel her heart sinking. Now, she took back the thoughts that had ran through her mind a while. Nothing could dampen the wonderful mood she currently was in, except this.
"Gaius believes he already brewed the proper potion," Merlin said, his boyish grin stretching widely. It reached his adorable ears and Hermione merely smiled back with a small nod. She did not trust herself to speak.
They finally arrived, and Merlin eagerly opened the door with the bang. The poor Court Physician almost had a heart attack with the noise, and as he witheringly glared at his mentee, Merlin only smiled back sheepishly.
"Sorry about that," the manservant said, lightly pushing Hermione closer to Gaius.
"I'm sure this overly-excited lad already told you of the good news, Hermione," the physician said, kindly smiling at the stunned face of the brunette. "I'm not quite sure if I did it properly, that is why he brought you here for confirmation. I do believe I haven't done anything wrong brewing it today, though, so…" He gestured at the small vial on his worktable, prompting Hermione to look at it.
With her blood running cold, she bit her bottom lip hardly.
The color was a beautiful shade of green.
Gaius' smile fell as he peered at Hermione's face. "It isn't the right potion still?" he asked, his voice thick with disappointment. He looked over Hermione's head and saw Merlin's slumped shoulders.
To the surprise of the two, Hermione wryly smiled. "You did nothing wrong, Gaius," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "The potion is perfect."
Slowly then, her hand clutched the small vial and tears gathered at the corner of her eyes. A knowing look appeared on Merlin's face, understanding why she was suddenly distressed of Gaius' success, and looked at his mentor with a small frown.
Soft sobs wracked her body and Merlin comfortingly placed a hand on her shoulder. This was it, her solution back home, and soon, she would leave Camelot.
An image of Arthur, with his handsome eyes and condescending smile, flashed before her eyes, and she could feel her heart breaking into two.
How unfair it was, she thought, that when she finally allowed for her to be happy with him, a harsh reminder that she didn't belong here just had to present itself and completely break her heart.
"G-give me one more day," she said through glassy eyes. "Just one more day, Gaius."
And the compassionate physician, his heart going out for the distressed brunette, earnestly nodded his head in reply.
Tomorrow was the Feast of Beltane.
Tomorrow, King Arthur and Merlin were to return to Camelot.
This thought had plagued Hermione for the rest of the day and while the rest were abuzz and eager to prepare for this event, Hermione was stoic among all of them. She had run autopilot for the whole day, agreeing to do whatever Harry or Minister Shacklebolt asked her to do. Apparently, tomorrow, she was the most important among all of them. Kingsley was able to research of a spell that would ensure the opening of the said veil so that Arthur and Merlin could return back to their kingdom. With her magical prowess, Kingsley thought it would be better if it was Hermione who would produce the spell.
It was night already, and Hermione knew that she needed all the energy she could muster tomorrow. She had practiced the spell with Kingsley a while ago, and she had a gist that she would be absolutely drained tomorrow. It wouldn't do Arthur and Merlin good if Hermione was unable to produce the proper spell and send them somewhere but Camelot.
The thing was, she couldn't sleep. She desperately tried, closing her eyes and avoiding moving too much, but sleep wouldn't just arrive and it had frustrated her so much.
'Come on now, Hermione,' she told herself, placing a pillow on top of her face. 'Come on now.'
Tears pricked her eyes, no matter how much she blinked them away. For the whole day, she managed to control her emotions. In fact, she even avoided any kind of interaction with the king and his manservant. But now that she was alone in the four corners of her room, with nothing that could distract her from her overwhelming emotions, Hermione knew her control had finally broken.
Before she even knew it, she was on her feet, and strolling towards the room of Arthur. Knocking desperately, she was torn whether to wish he would answer it or not. She had no idea what she would tell him if he opened his door and saw her standing in front, distressed and terrible.
A full minute had passed, and she was secretly relieved he had not opened his door yet. But then, just when she was about to return back to her room and cry herself to sleep, the door was thrown open. Opposite her stood a dishevelled king, with dark bags under his eyes and a scary scowl on his face. It seemed like it wasn't only her who couldn't sleep that night.
"Hermione?" the king asked, the irritation dissipating upon seeing her tearstained face. "What are you doing here?"
She sniffed and haphazardly wiped away her tears. "I-I don't know," she whispered in reply.
Arthur knitted his eyebrows in confusion. "You don't know?" he asked, running a hand through his hair. "It's late at night, and I think it is best - "
He was cut off by her lips, crushing hungrily against him. Too stunned to respond, Arthur merely stood frozen on the spot.
Hermione quickly pulled back, her eyes wide and her cheeks flushed. She, too, was surprised with her actions. "I… err… sorry," she said, placing a hand against her lips.
Arthur snapped off from his surprised stupor, his eyes now slightly narrowing with intense emotions swirling inside. He grabbed her wrist and roughly pulled her inside, closing the door behind her with a soft thud. Now, Hermione was trapped between the door and Arthur's chest, and her mind now was in a jumbled mess and she just couldn't think.
He pressed his lips against hers once more, and Hermione eagerly responded. Her arms wounded around his neck and she pushed herself flush against his chest, trying to be as close to him as possible. The unspoken grief and desperation both felt were poured through the kiss and Hermione could already feel herself getting lightheaded.
Arthur, to her surprise, pulled back and quickly took a few steps back. Hermione, wide-eyed, stared at him with confusion and disorientation, but the king quickly shook his head and raised both of his arms.
"Leave," he gasped, his voice hoarse from desire. "Please, leave, before I do something we might both regret in the end."
Hermione sniffed, a determined glint now shining in her eyes. Silently then, she reached for the buttons on her shirt and started unbuttoning them.
"W-what are you doing?" Arthur sputtered out, aghast.
She successfully unbuttoned her pajama shirt and had shrugged it off. Slowly, she approached him as her tears increased. "I might not see you anymore, Arthur," she whispered. "I just… I just…" She was, without any doubt, out of her mind, but all she could think about was her broken heart and the fact that she would not be able to see him anymore.
Once she reached him, she placed a hand against his cheek and tiptoed, bestowing a soft kiss against his lips. Arthur was tensed at first, but as the kiss grew intensity, he gradually relaxed against her.
Soon, she found herself on his bed, with him hovering above her.
His eyes shone with emotions as he kissed every inch of her body, whispering his adoration to her. She allowed him to worship her body and she closed her eyes, marvelling every touch and kiss he placed on her body. Through hooded eyes, she saw how he momentarily stared at her scars, before bending down to give them gentle kisses that sent shivers up her spine.
He saw the scar Bellatrix had given to her, an ugly reminder of what she was and the discrimination she would inevitably receive just because she wasn't pure.
"Mudblood?" he whispered, looking at her in question. But Hermione shook her head, tears streaming down from her eyes as nightmares of her past visited her. Arthur, sensing her distress, lifted her arm against his lips and bestowed the gentlest of kisses on her scar. This simple gesture tugged her very heartstrings and soft sobs escaped from her lips.
Arthur kissed her tears away and murmured more loving words against her ears. As soon as her tears abated, he slipped inside her and everything around her didn't matter but him.
"Arthur?" she whispered a few hours later, once he plopped down beside her, completely sated.
The king, with dark eyes, rolled around to face her and pull her flush against his chest. "What is it?" he whispered, his lips lightly touching the top of her head.
"I love you," she tenderly whispered, snuggling closer to him. Back in Camelot, she was not given the opportunity to properly tell him what she really felt. Arthur was vocal with his feelings for her, but Hermione was too afraid to reply back. But now, here in his arms, she was now sure of what feelings she had for the king.
With her confession, she felt Arthur pulling her closer to himself, unable to reply back. She felt him smiling against her skin, though, and it already spoke volumes for Hermione.
She pressed kisses on his jaw, knowing that the truth would dawn upon them once more. The spell of the night was broken as tears filled Hermione's eyes, knowing that tomorrow, she would not be able to see him anymore.
'Can't you stay?' was her silent question. It was a selfish request, when the answer was already blatant. Perhaps, if she was merely Hermione Granger and he was only Arthur Pendragon, things between them would be much easier.
Arthur, though, seemed to understand her silent question, for he intently looked into her eyes and sadly smiled.
"I can't stay here," he whispered in the dead of the night, brushing a soft kiss against her forehead. Hermione closed her eyes and allowed her tears to fall. Of course she knew he couldn't stay here; he was, after all, the King of Ancient Camelot. But the way he was looking at her spoke of the undeniable secret only he and she shared – he was asking her to stay with him instead.
Hermione took a deep shuddering breath and looked back at him. "I have one request for you, Arthur," she said. When he questioningly looked at her, she continued, "Find a wife." His face contorted into an ugly expression, but she cupped his chin so that he wouldn't break their gaze. "Camelot needs an heir, Arthur. You are the king; you have responsibilities to uphold to protect your people."
"I'm not really sure I can grant your wish," he wryly said, frowning deeply.
"Arthur…"
"No," he said with conviction. "I can't."
"Isn't that selfish, sire?" she asked, putting more emphasis on her address to him.
Arthur lightly scowled. "I'm going to give you up," he harshly replied. "Isn't that enough?"
Hermione sadly smiled back. "You must find your happiness someday," she said. "That's my only wish for you."
But the king shook his head, eyes adamant and set. "Leaving you will condemn me into a lifetime of grief," he said, face hardening. "I don't think I will be able to find happiness with anyone but you."
"You see, that's the same emotion that had clouded King Uther's judgment as he brought peril upon the people of magic," she whispered, unfazed when he scowled upon mentioning his father's name. "I do not want that for you, Arthur. So promise me, promise me, you will move on and find another."
"This conversation…"
"Arthur," she beseeched. "Please."
Frustrated tears gathered at the corner of his eyes and Hermione deftly wiped them away. Her heart broke for his tears, and Hermione pulled him closer to herself to give him a comforting hug.
"I can't," he finally brokenly sobbed against her neck. "You will always live in my heart, Hermione."
With a sinking heart, Hermione knew that Arthur spoke of the honest truth.
They brought her to the Darkling Woods. Gaius reckoned it would be better if she drank the potion here and returned back home since it was far away from the castle and the wrathful king.
Today was strangely a dreary, cold day. The soothsayers of the kingdom predicted a wonderful weather for today and rarely were they wrong. Hermione thought that perhaps even the sky was mourning for her departure.
"You all right?" Merlin softly asked, touching her elbow to get her attention.
She looked at him and merely smiled. She did not trust herself to speak, afraid that she would breakdown once again. Farewells were already exchanged even before they ventured into the forest. Hermione thought it would be best that once they arrived in the forest, she would leave as soon as possible before her mind even changed.
Finally, Gaius stopped walking and turned to the quiet brunette. "Are you ready?" he asked, kind eyes squinting in sympathy. He pulled out the small vial of potion and gave it to Hermione, who took it silently.
"Goodbye, Hermione," Merlin sputtered out, unable to help himself. Hermione looked at him and tearfully smiled, noticing how the normally chirpy manservant was awfully grim today.
"Goodbye, Merlin," she replied. She looked at Gaius and nodded her head, biting her bottom lip so as to stop any incoming onslaught of emotion. She must get back immediately if she wanted this whole thing successful.
She removed the cork of the vial and took a whiff of it. It smelled exactly the same as the potion Luna had given to her before, reminding her once more that she was to finally return and leave this kingdom that grew close to her heart.
Momentarily, she closed her eyes and relieved all the memories she had in this kingdom. For such a short period of time, Camelot almost became close to home, and it broke her heart into two knowing she had to leave soon because she didn't belong here.
When she opened her eyes, a small tear trailed down on her cheek. She could see that even Merlin was trying his very best not to cry but was miserably falling.
"Merlin?" she whispered.
"Y-yes?" he asked, loudly sniffing in the silent woods.
Hermione lifted a hand and deftly wiped away her tears. "P-please take care of Arthur," she said, shakily smiling when Merlin earnestly nodded.
"I will, Hermione," he gushed out with so much conviction. "I will, I swear."
She nodded her head and looked back at the small vial in her hand. Taking in a deep breath, she finished the potion in one gulp. Hermione felt the familiar pulling sensation in her navel and she tightly closed her eyes. There was a loud whoosh as the sound in the background changed. The chirping of the birds and the rustling of leaves were gone, replaced by noisy cars and loud chattering of people.
Slowly, Hermione opened her eyes and she forlornly smiled.
Finally, she was home.
She brought the rear of the group as they trudged into the Forbidden Forest. Minister Shacklebolt thought that since King Arthur and the great Merlin got lost in their own woods back in Camelot, then it would be best and much safer if they also try bringing them home in another forest, too.
The small group consisted of Kingsley, who took the lead, who was closely followed by King Arthur, and then Merlin. Harry stood right in front of her, constantly darting concerned and confused looks at her. As they journeyed to Hogwarts, a certain gloominess hung over their heads. Hermione was reminded of the time when she returned back to the Wizarding World. The weathers before and today were strangely the same, and Hermione wondered if the sky mourned for their inevitable separation, too.
Last night was left unspoken between Arthur and Hermione. They both fell asleep in each other's arms, but before the king could even wake up, Hermione already bounded back to her own room to ready herself for the day. Things between them were wonderful last night. It was, dare she say it, the best day she had ever had. But such joy was dampened with the fact that Arthur was to return to Camelot today, and leave Hermione to nurse another broken heart back to health.
Kingsley and Merlin were engaged in a small conversation, but Hermione could see that Arthur refused to join in. Like her, he was strangely quiet.
Finally, they arrived, and Kingsley led the group at the deeper part of the forest. He then turned to Hermione and ushered her forward. Purposefully, she walked closer to the minister, telling herself not to look away from Kingsley's eyes.
"I trust you have rested well, Head Auror Granger," Kingsley said with a small smile.
Unwittingly, Hermione slightly blushed scarlet. Last night made her a little sore today, but coupled with it was a sense of utter satisfaction.
Kingsley was waiting for her answer and Hermione, still not trusting herself to speak, merely nodded her head.
"Very good," he said, pulling out his wand. "Now the spell, Hermione."
Hermione pulled out her own wand. Loudly, she spoke, "Rifte béo ætíe [1]." A sudden gust of wind passed through the forest. Looking around, they finally spotted the shimmering golden veil. Her spell provided help by making the veil more visible to them, so that Arthur and Merlin knew where to cross.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye," Merlin said with a wide smile, shaking Kingsley's hand. "It was nice meeting you all." His eyes landed on Hermione, and his smile slightly faltered, understanding the emotion playing on her face. "In your case, it's nice meeting you again, Hermione."
The brunette lightly smiled and nodded her head.
Merlin then turned to Arthur and ushered him. The king, unemotional, followed without any word. "Camelot awaits their king, sire," the young manservant said, gesturing at the thin veil.
Hermione held her breath as he and Merlin walked closer to the veil. Every part of her body screamed for her to stand where she was, to watch as they successfully returned to Camelot, but then, her traitorous heart urged her to walk closer to the legendary figures of history.
"Hermione?" Harry called, confused at her actions.
Her name had stopped Merlin and Arthur from completely stepping through the veil. They turned around and curiously watched as Hermione, with tears now streaming down from her eyes, stopped right in front of the king. Something flicked in Arthur's eyes as he looked at Hermione and the brunette, her face contorted in silent pain, softly declared, "I…" She paused, her eyes briefly sweeping towards Kingsley and Harry. She returned her gaze back at Arthur and earnestly continued, "I-I'm coming with you."
Harry gasped loudly and stomped forward in indignation. "What are you talking about, Hermione?" he asked, slightly infuriated.
Hermione looked at her best friend and sadly smiled at the distress and horror on his face. "I-I'm sorry, Harry," she murmured. "But I… I can't live without him."
"Are you sure?" Arthur asked, peering straight into her eyes. She looked back at him and genuinely smiled, noting with fondness how his eyes considerably brightened at her truthfulness.
"Head Auror Granger, you do understand the consequences of your decision, yes?" Minister Shacklebolt asked, drawing her attention to him.
The brunette vigorously nodded. Once she stepped through the veil, the people she left in the Wizarding World would gradually forget her. The present she had made with her memories and her presence would all fade into nothingness as she ventured to Camelot, forming a different dimension of her own.
She'd thought all about these last night as she slept with Arthur by her side. Looking at him, in the dead of night, made Hermione firmly believe once and for all that if she were to be separated from him again, she didn't know if she'd be able to move on.
Hermione walked away from Arthur and neared Harry. The-Boy-Who-Lived sadly stared at her, but he knew he couldn't do anything anymore. Once Hermione was decided on something, nothing could stop her.
"I'm sorry, Harry," she repeated in a whisper, throwing her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry."
Harry took in a deep breath and pressed a lingering kiss on her forehead. "I want you to be happy, Hermione," he tiredly said, tears now forming at the corner of his eyes. "If this is what you want, then I shall support you with all my heart."
Hermione gave him a watery smile and placed a kiss on his cheek. "I love you all," she said, before completely breaking away and returning to Arthur's side. Above his head, she could see the smile stretched widely on Merlin's face.
"Ready?" Arthur asked, stretching his hand. Hermione gently smiled, before enclosing her small hand with his.
Together, they stepped through the veil, vowing a silent promise of staying with each other for the rest of their lives.
Fin
[1] Rifte béo ætíe – Veil, be visible
A/N: End of story! How'd you like it? Tell me in your reviews.
This whole three-shot honestly drained me emotionally. I struggled to come up with scenes and all and I just UGH XD I've never felt so frustrated over a fic before. I edited a few things here and there until I'm satisfied with its outcome.
I know, despite its length, that things between Hermione and Arthur were brief. I honestly wanted to add possible hilarious scenes with Arthur and Merlin struggling with the difference of their world and the advancement of technology. But then, seeing that this is a three-shot (and I plan not to exceed a chapter or two more), the scenes I came up should be limited. Hence, I carefully selected what I deem really necessary for this three-shot.
For now, I'd say that I won't be writing more Armione stories in the near future. Once again, this story emotionally drained me, despite its happy ending XD SERIOUSLY, I must blame youtube for making me fall mercilessly in love with this crossover couple. I mean, really, have you seen some fanvids? They're brilliant, and you'd wish that this ship would actually happen. It frustrates me so that there are still a few really good HP/Merlin crossovers. I really believe the two worlds combined would make sense since they have a lot of similarities.
OKAY, must stop ranting now. Advanced Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you my dear readers! It had been a blast writing these two Armione stories and I'm quite sure this wouldn't be my last.
That's it for now! Once again, REVIEW!
Happy Holidays!
With love,
WickedlyAwesomeMe
